One of gay marriages most vocal supporters gained national recognition when a group of Prop. 8 supporters used Newsom's own words to scare voters to support the measure that banned gay marriage in California.

Newsom said the ad was "effective" at getting Californians to vote against Prop. 8.

On Wednesday, Newsom publicly repeated the phrase he himself described as "Howard Dean-esque." But this time the mayor was speaking about offering health care in San Francisco regardless of immigration status.